With crossovers aplenty in the Marvel Universe, brand new creator-owned titles from Image and a truly special Star Wars treat from Dark Horse, this week’s pull list offers up a bevy of terrific titles that means it’s not just Wednesday; it’s Comic Book Day.

Top Picks

The Star Wars #1 | J.W. Winzler and Mike Mayhew

“Holy shit.” That’s what I said aloud to an empty room after reading the first issue of The Star Wars, Dark Horse’s fantastic new 8-issue mini-series. Did you ever wonder what Star Wars would have been like if George Lucas never did any rewrites and his rough draft was the movie that conquered the world? Meet The Star Wars. Adapted from George Lucas’ original script, The Star Wars is, perhaps, the purest version of Star Wars ever to be put to printed page, depending on how you look at it. It’s like being in a weird alternate reality where things are slightly off, but still immensely cool. J.W. Winzler paces out issue one perfectly, drawing the reader in and dangling enough of a narrative carrot to keep us moving while hungering for more. Of particular merit, though, is Mike Mayhew’s jaw-droppingly awesome artwork and panels, which look like gorgeously rendered oil paintings come to life. I love Star Wars, but I have a distinct feeling that The Star Wars is going to give that love a run for its Imperial credits. Do yourself a favor, Padawan reader, and track this book down ASAP.

Reality Check #1 | Glen Brunswick and Viktor Boydanovic

While the trope of a writer’s character coming to life and meeting its maker isn’t new, Glen Brunswick manages to make it lighthearted, fun and relatable in Reality Check‘s debut issue. Willard Penn is a struggling artist trying to hack it in L.A. as a comic book creator, but despite his best efforts, he can’t seem to finish what he starts. He is a man who is trying to escape his past and his brother’s shadow and pouring his emotions into his newest comic book creation, Dark Hour, a “libidinous Batman” that represents everything he wants to be. And then he gets to meet him. Viktor Boydanovic’s artwork gives the book an indie edge and keeps the delineations between fiction and reality stark and exciting at the same time. Granted, this first issue involves a lot of table setting, but it’ll be intriguing to see where he takes the series next.

ADVANCE REVIEW: All New X-Men #16 | Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen

Battle of the Atom continues in a convoluted but compelling issue that finds Bendis maneuvering his Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine’s Jean Grey School team, the X-Men of the past and the battle hardened X-Men of the future into a tense standoff that explodes once the young versions of Jean Grey and Scott Summers make a break for it. The future hangs in the balance, and it’s up to a mutant coalition of the willing (and the distrusting) to save the day. Much of the heart and humor of the story comes from seeing the past, present and future versions of characters interacting with one another, which Bendis navigates handily despite having an outsized cast to work with. Stuart Immonen’s artwork continues to delight and you can tell he’s having a blast with the multigenerational cast, which makes the book a joy to read.

While Infinity is unrelenting in its grimness, Battle of the Atom is an an apocalyptic crossover event with a decided sense of fun, which is a welcome relief.

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Pull List
DARK HORSE COMICS

MAY130069 ADVENTURES INTO THE UNKNOWN ARCHIVES HC VOL 03 $49.99
JUL130039 BALTIMORE INFERNAL TRAIN #1 $3.50
MAY130073 BLOOD BLOCKADE BATTLEFRONT TP VOL 04 $12.99
JUL130063 CATALYST COMIX #3 (MR) $2.99
DEC120103 GARY BASEMAN CYCLOPS CAT PIN $14.99
JAN130154 GARY BASEMAN EYE PIN $14.99
DEC120104 GARY BASEMAN SKULL & CROSSBONES PIN $14.99
FEB130073 GARY BASEMAN VERITAS HAND SIGN PIN $14.99
MAY130070 KORAK SON OF TARZAN ARCHIVES HC VOL 02 $49.99
JUL130066 MICHAEL AVON OEMINGS VICTORIES #5 TRANSHUMAN (MR) $3.99
MAY130071 NG EVANGELION SHINJI DETECTIVE DIARY TP VOL 01 $9.99
JUL130008 STAR WARS #1 LUCAS DRAFT $3.99

DC COMICS

JUL130176 ACTION COMICS #23.1 CYBORG SUPERMAN $3.99
JUN138285 ACTION COMICS #23.1 CYBORG SUPERMAN STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130218 AME COMI GIRLS #7 $3.99
JUN130293 AMERICAN VAMPIRE TP VOL 04 (MR) $16.99
JUN130267 ANIMAL MAN TP VOL 03 ROTWORLD THE RED KINGDOM (N52) $16.99
JUL130185 BATMAN #23.1 JOKER $3.99
JUN138287 BATMAN #23.1 JOKER STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130189 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.1 TWO FACE $3.99
JUN138288 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.1 TWO FACE STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130208 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE #1 $4.99
JUN130259 BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT TP VOL 01 $14.99
JUL130193 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.1 VENTRILOQUIST $3.99
JUN138289 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.1 VENTRILOQUIST STANDARD ED $2.99
JUN130242 DC VS MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #1 CVR A (DC) $2.99
JUN130243 DC VS MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #1 CVR B (MOTU) $2.99
JUL130197 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.1 POISON IVY $3.99
JUN138290 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.1 POISON IVY STANDARD ED $2.99
JUN130295 DJANGO UNCHAINED #7 (MR) $4.99
JUL130168 EARTH 2 #15.1 DESAAD $3.99
JUN138282 EARTH 2 #15.1 DESAAD STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130258 FAIREST #19 (MR) $2.99
JUL130170 FLASH #23.1 GRODD $3.99
JUN138283 FLASH #23.1 GRODD STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130149 FOREVER EVIL #1 $3.99
JUL130155 FOREVER EVIL #1 COMBO PACK $4.99
JUL130173 GREEN ARROW #23.1 COUNT VERTIGO $3.99
JUN138284 GREEN ARROW #23.1 COUNT VERTIGO STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130201 GREEN LANTERN #23.1 RELIC $3.99
JUN138291 GREEN LANTERN #23.1 RELIC STANDARD ED $2.99
MAY130221 GREEN LANTERN HC RISE O/T THIRD ARMY (N52) $29.99
JUN138297 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #6 2ND PTG $3.99
JUL130156 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.1 DARKSEID $3.99
JUN138279 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.1 DARKSEID STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130164 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23.1 CREEPER $3.99
JUN138281 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23.1 CREEPER STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130160 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.1 DEADSHOT $3.99
JUN138280 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.1 DEADSHOT STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130222 LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #12 $3.99
JUN130270 NECESSARY EVIL THE VILLAINS OF THE DC UNIVERSE TP $16.99
JUL130254 SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #37 $2.99
JUL130180 SUPERMAN #23.1 BIZARRO $3.99
JUN138286 SUPERMAN #23.1 BIZARRO STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130273 TRILLIUM #2 (MR) $2.99
JUN138293 TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #2 2ND PTG $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

APR130281 DC COMICS COVER GIRLS BATGIRL STATUE $99.95

IDW PUBLISHING

JUL130322 DANGER GIRL THE CHASE #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL130374 GI JOE COBRA FILES #6 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL130376 GI JOE COBRA FILES TP VOL 01 $17.99
JUN130351 HAUNTED HORROR #6 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL130316 JUDGE DREDD (IDW) TP VOL 02 [DIG] $17.99
JAN130465 SKIPPY HC VOL 02 COMPLETE DAILIES 1928-1930 $49.99
JUN138089 X-FILES SEASON 10 #1 3RD PTG $3.99
JUN138090 X-FILES SEASON 10 #2 3RD PTG $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

MAY130550 A DISTANT SOIL #41 [DIG] $3.50
JUL130518 BLACKACRE #10 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUN130435 CHEW #36 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUL130526 HOAX HUNTERS #10 [DIG] $3.50
MAY130556 INVINCIBLE #105 [DIG] $2.99
JUL130527 INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE #6 [DIG] $2.99
JUN130485 LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE TP VOL 02 (MR) [DIG] $17.99
JUL130432 LOVE STORIES TO DIE FOR #1 CVR A BONK [DIG] $4.99
JUL130433 LOVE STORIES TO DIE FOR #1 CVR B GIENI $4.99
JUN130486 MORNING GLORIES TP VOL 05 $12.99
JUL130410 REALITY CHECK #1 [DIG] $2.99
JUL130539 SATELLITE SAM #3 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
JUL130543 SHELTERED #3 [DIG] $2.99
JUL130544 SPAWN #235 [DIG] $2.99
JUL130491 WALKING DEAD HC VOL 09 (MR) $34.99
JUN130570 WITCHBLADE #169 CVR A CHRISTOPHER [DIG] $2.99
JUN130571 WITCHBLADE #169 CVR B BERNARD $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

JUN131925 TMP NHL SERIES 33 AF PI

MARVEL COMICS

JUN130675 AGE OF ULTRON HC $75.00
JUL130663 ALL NEW X-MEN #16 $3.99
JUL130606 AVENGERS AI #3 $2.99
JUL130642 DAREDEVIL DARK NIGHTS #4 $2.99
JUL130685 DEADPOOL KILLS DEADPOOL #3 $2.99
JUL130691 DEXTER #3 (RES) $3.99
JUL130654 EMERALD CITY OF OZ #3 $3.99
JUN130688 ENDERS GAME GRAPHIC NOVEL TP $24.99
JUL130565 INFINITY #2 $3.99
JUN130692 INFINITY GAUNTLET AFTERMATH TP $34.99
JUL130631 IRON MAN #15 $3.99
JUN130680 NOVA PREM HC ORIGIN NOW $24.99
MAY130728 ONCE UPON A TIME SHADOW OF THE QUEEN PREMIERE HC $19.99
JUL130616 SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN NOW #3 $2.99
JUL130618 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #17 $3.99
SEP120676 TAKIO #4 $3.95
JUL130623 VENOM #40 $2.99
JUL130680 X-FACTOR #262 $2.99
JUL130658 X-MEN BATTLE OF ATOM #1 $3.99
JUL130689 X-MEN LEGACY #16 $2.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAY130918 12 REASONS TO DIE #3 $3.50
JUL130866 ABSOLUTION RUBICON #3 (MR) $3.99
JUL130868 ABSOLUTION RUBICON #3 FINAL JUSTICE CVR (MR) $3.99
JUL130869 ABSOLUTION RUBICON #3 HAPPY KITTY PREMIUM CVR (MR) $9.99
JUL130867 ABSOLUTION RUBICON #3 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JUL131154 AMERICAN BORN CHINESE SC NEW PTG $18.99
JUN131213 ANNOYING ORANGE GN VOL 03 PULPED FICTION $7.99
JUN130755 ARCHIE #647 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
JUN131038 ARMY OF DARKNESS VS HACK SLASH #2 CASELLI CVR $3.99
JUN131041 ARMY OF DARKNESS VS HACK SLASH #2 EXC SUBSCRIPTION VA $3.99
JUN131039 ARMY OF DARKNESS VS HACK SLASH #2 SEELEY CVR $3.99
JUN131040 ARMY OF DARKNESS VS HACK SLASH #2 TEMPLESMITH CVR $3.99
JUL131180 ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 06 $10.99
JUN130765 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #215 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN131051 BIONIC MAN TP VOL 02 BIGFOOT $19.99
JUL131029 BLACK BAT #5 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
JUL131028 BLACK BAT #5 LEE CVR $3.99
JUN131359 BLEACH 3IN1 ED TP VOL 06 $14.99
JUL130834 CHARISMAGIC VOL 2 #5 DIRECT MARKET CVR A [DIG] $3.99
JUL130835 CHARISMAGIC VOL 2 #5 DIRECT MARKET CVR B $3.99
JUN131335 CHI SWEET HOME GN VOL 10 $13.95
JUN130743 CLASSIC SPACE 1999 SC EVERYTHING THAT WAS $24.95
JUL130985 CODENAME ACTION #1 $3.99
JUL131166 COLLECTION OF SHA TP (MR) $19.95
JUN131160 CONAN RED NAILS ORIGINAL ART ARCHIVES HC $150.00
MAY131255 CRIMSON EMPIRE CIRCUMSTANCES TO SERVE A NOBLE GN VOL 02 $13.99
MAY130912 CRITTER ANNUAL #1 $5.99
JUL130843 DAN THE UNHARMABLE TP VOL 02 (MR) $19.99
MAY131005 DANGER GIRL ARMY OF DARKNESS TP $19.99
JUN130897 DEATHMATCH #9 [DIG] $3.99
JUN131130 DELILAH DIRK & TURKISH LIEUTENANT GN $15.99
JUN131350 DEMON LOVE SPELL GN VOL 04 $9.99
JUN131086 DF GUARDIANS O/T GALAXY #5 EXC DEODATO CVR PI
JUN131379 DIM SUM WARRIORS GN VOL 01 $12.99
JUN131353 DRAGONBALL 3IN1 ED TP VOL 02 $14.99
JUL131191 ELSEWHERE CHRONICLES GN VOL 06 TOWER OF SHADOWS $6.95
JUN131185 FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 29 $10.99
JUL130952 GARFIELD #17 [DIG] $3.99
JUN131388 GFT HUNTERS SHADOWLANDS #4 A CVR ORTIZ $2.99
JUN131389 GFT HUNTERS SHADOWLANDS #4 B CVR KING $2.99
JUN131390 GFT HUNTERS SHADOWLANDS #4 C CVR CAFARO $2.99
JUN131409 GFT WONDERLAND DOWN RABBIT HOLE #4 A CVR CHEN $2.99
JUN131410 GFT WONDERLAND DOWN RABBIT HOLE #4 B CVR SALGADO $2.99
JUN131411 GFT WONDERLAND DOWN RABBIT HOLE #4 C CVR HORN $2.99
JUL130839 GOD IS DEAD #1 (MR) $3.99
JUL130840 GOD IS DEAD #1 END OF DAYS CVR (MR) $3.99
JUL130841 GOD IS DEAD #1 ICONIC CVR (MR) $4.99
JUL131165 HEAVY METALS DRACULA HC (MR) $14.95
JUL130912 HIT #1 [DIG] $3.99
MAY131244 JUDGE DREDD DAY OF CHAOS ENDGAME GN (MR) $27.99
JUL131178 KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 41 $14.99
JUN131274 LENORE PURPLE NURPLES HC COLOR ED $17.95
JUL131192 LITTLE PRINCE GN VOL 11 PLANET OF LIBRIS $7.95
JUL131193 LITTLE PRINCE GN VOL 12 PLANET OF LUDOKAA $7.95
MAR131101 LONE RANGER TP VOL 06 NATIVE GROUND $19.99
MAR131082 LORD OF THE JUNGLE TP VOL 02 (MR) $19.99
JUL130996 LORDS OF MARS #2 ROSS CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN131358 MAMESHIBA ENCHANTED GN $6.99
JUN131348 MAX STEEL GN VOL 01 $7.99
JAN131091 MERCILESS RISE OF MING TP $16.99
JUN131349 MIDNIGHT SECRETARY GN VOL 01 (MR) $9.99
JUL130993 MOCKING DEAD #1 $3.99
JUN131355 MONSUNO GN VOL 02 $7.99
MAY130802 MOUSE GUARD LEGENDS O/T GUARD VOL 2 #2 $3.50
JUN131352 NARUTO 3IN1 ED TP VOL 06 $14.99
JUN131351 ONE PIECE TP VOL 68 $9.99
JUN131363 OTOMEN GN VOL 16 $9.99
JUL131038 OWL #3 $3.99
JAN131054 PANTHA TP VOL 01 GODDESS & DANGEROUS GAME $19.99
JUL131084 PATHFINDER GOBLINS #2 $3.99
JUN130871 PENNY FOR YOUR SOUL JOAN OF ARC TP $17.99
JUN131354 POKEMON ADVENTURES TP VOL 18 $9.99
JUN131360 PSYREN GN VOL 12 $9.99
JUL131317 QUANTUM & WOODY #3 REG SOOK $3.99
JUN130942 RED TEN #4 (MR) $3.99
JAN131247 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS CAPTAIN VIDEO HC VOL 01 $47.99
DEC121212 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS PHANTOM LADY COLL WORKS HC VOL 02 $47.99
MAY131240 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS PHANTOM LADY SLIPCASE ED VOL 02 $69.99
JUN131187 SANKAREA GN VOL 02 UNDYING LOVE $10.99
JUL131420 SCREWED #4 A CVR KIRKHAM (MR) $2.99
JUL131421 SCREWED #4 B CVR MILLER (MR) $2.99
JUL131422 SCREWED #4 C CVR ORACLE (MR) $2.99
APR131017 SHADOW YEAR ONE #5 CVR A WAGNER $3.99
APR131018 SHADOW YEAR ONE #5 CVR B ROSS $3.99
APR131019 SHADOW YEAR ONE #5 CVR C SAMNEE $3.99
APR131020 SHADOW YEAR ONE #5 CVR D CHAYKIN $3.99
JUL131315 SHADOWMAN #10 ORDERALL DE LA TORRE $3.99
JUL131314 SHADOWMAN #10 REG PERGER $3.99
JUN130863 SHAHRAZAD PROLOGUE $1.99
MAY130926 SIMPSONS COMICS COLOSSAL COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01 $16.99
MAY130827 SONIC SUPER SPECIAL MAGAZINE #8 STICKER SPECTACULAR [DIG] $9.99
JUN130773 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #252 REG CVR [P+] $2.99
JUN130772 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SELECT TP VOL 08 [DIG] $11.99
JUN131364 STROBE EDGE GN VOL 06 $9.99
JUL130928 SUICIDE RISK #5 [DIG] $3.99
JUL130847 UBER #5 (MR) $3.99
JUL130849 UBER #5 PROPAGANDA POSTER CVR (MR) $3.99
JUL130848 UBER #5 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JUL131194 WALUK GN $7.95
MAY131062 WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #29 (MR) $3.99
JUN131357 WINX CLUB GN VOL 09 $6.99

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What’s on your pull list this week?